#happyholidays
I hope everyone has a perfect new year!….more Reikuri drawings coming up! Please follow me if you enjoy Reikuri art! Also follow my instagram @cindayma_anime
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL I HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A PERFECT TIME WITH YOUR BELOVED FAMILY!! MORE REIKURI COMING THIS NEW YEAR!! Please follow my instagram @cindayma_anime for more of my art!
8: Do Not Be Afraid
In January 2020, I left behind full-time art to begin nine months of Americorps service with Virginia State Parks. It was everything missing from my art career–outside every day, working hard with people on physical projects, and learning NEW skills (prescribed burning, trail building, invasives management, chainsaws, etc). I was in a new environment and completely out of my element, and I absolutely loved it.
Then March happened.
I had maintained a few clients while doing Americorps, but almost all of them dissipated when the pandemic hit. Our travel between parks was shut down, but as the nature of our work was outdoors and spread out, we were able to continue without interruption–a blessing I know was not common for pandemic-impacted jobs. Suddenly everyone BUT me was working at home, alone, indoors all the time. I got to keep working outside, wandering through the woods in search of autumn olive, in hollering distance from my coworkers. I thought to myself how lucky I had been. I thought also about how unlucky others had been.
The end of the year brought little respite, though I really, really enjoyed my time with Virginia State Parks and finished my Americorps service successfully. I didn’t really want to do a cutesy bird Christmas card–it seemed tone-deaf and trite. I almost decided not to do one at all, especially since I was still not enjoying drawing.
And I didn’t intend for this to be a Christmas card. I was doodling while thinking about Advent, and the woodcut art on the church bulletins of my childhood, and fear of the future, and Biblical angels, and, as usual, birds. It wasn’t until I was done that I thought about sharing it. It was the first thing in about a year that came easily–almost like it drew itself.
I’ll end with what I wrote when I originally posted it to Patreon: “This is a… weird holiday card. 2020 was a weird year. I am uncertain about what is to come. But there are many stories in human history, across our millions of years years as a species, about the unknown–and we always manage to meet it. And sometimes it is unexpectedly good.”
#hope #advent #future #merrychristmas #happyholidays #biblicalangel
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX48-R6MM2u/?utm_medium=tumblr
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6: Winter’s Warmth
By December 2018 another whirlwind was at my back. I was wrapping up the first year I’d worked full-time for myself making art–without starving, contrary to the old, tired, and increasingly inaccurate stereotype. I had a few major projects with the CLO and an educational video game, and a number of other conservation or non-profit clients. I was making art in general at a furious rate. And it was during this first year, my relationship with art-making started to become unhealthy.
The complete absence of a steady paycheck scared the absolute heck out of me. I had zero example of how to manage this, and at the time “hustle/entrepreneur” culture was going strong, without much critique on its impact on well-being. So I worked. And worked and worked and worked, and if I was awake, I was either working or thinking about working. This culminated in a visit to the ER, with a migraine so bad and weird I thought I might be having a stroke.
That was enough of a wake-up call that I started establishing some boundaries. I started being more comfortable with saying “no” to clients with projects that didn’t fit me, and charging more responsible rates for those who did. This did not happen overnight, and is still in progress to this day.
I also didn’t do it alone. One of the joys of being in Charlottesville was getting to know my awesome sister (@abiggril) as an adult, and meet her wonderful friends, who welcomed me into their community with open arms. (And lots of board games and food!) They continue to be some of my favorite people, even though I live across the mountain now.
Last but far from least, my biggest supporter, best friend, and partner was there with me through it all. He’s the kind of partner that definitely inspires a goopy mistletoe-y snuggly sort of Christmas card.
If you have friends, family, partners, pets–any Being of any kind who makes your days rich with love this chilly season, consider telling them so once you finish reading this. And consider, if you/they are a touchy/feely type, a good hug.
#happyholidays #throwback #advent #birdart #whimsical #watercolor #inkbirds #winterbirds #birdartist #inkbirds #love #loveisthething
https://www.instagram.com/virginiagreeneillustration/p/CXyhJm8Li0f/?utm_medium=tumblr
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5: The Road Ahead
2017 was a whirlwind of a year. I was making up for my hermit-like college years with ferocity–in addition to working at the Lab of O, I had joined two church choirs, gotten engaged in some community volunteering, and was socializing most nights of the week and weekend. Everything was going well and sprinting forward, and I could see a concrete future for myself coalescing that checked all of my boxes–something I’d been pursuing since I left my parent’s home 10 years prior.
Then a significant personal snag occured, and that envisioned future became so much fog. I was not sure what was next again.
It was in that fog, sitting at a coffeeshop in Burlington, VT, that I painted this image that went on to be my Christmas card for the year. I wasn’t very familiar with Stoicism at the time, but had unconsciously made for myself a little Stoic scholar in the form of this ruffed grouse.
The untouched snow ahead beckons. There are many ways to leave a trail, and all of them lead to life–with the right attitude, a life lived well. But no matter what, your job as One Who Lives is to press on–one foot in front of the other.
#happyholidays #throwback #advent #birdart #whimsical #watercolor #inkbirds #winterbirds #birdartist #theroadahead #journey #memories #ruffedgrouse #gouache #stoicism
https://www.instagram.com/virginiagreeneillustration/p/CXv8BGwrm3x/?utm_medium=tumblr
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3: Winter Birds of the East Coast
The end of 2015 found me a lot more confident and a lot happier. The end of my masters was in sight, with all my research trials (or so I thought, haha) behind me and one long semester of writing ahead. My work-wife and best buddy Sarah and I were killing it every day–teaching in the classroom, doing research in the lab, and getting swole at the gym. (We also enjoyed putting together outfits with whatever we had in our closets, which are some of the earliest things I documented on Instagram.) With more of a handle on things non-art related, I found myself drawing and thinking about art a lot more often.
There was a poster in my office in Millington (RIP, the building has since been torn down and only exists in W&M students’ memories) that had been left by some long-graduated student titled “Birds of the Garden” by Larry McQueen, of North American birds in winter. If you’re not familiar with McQueen’s work, definitely look him up! I looked at this poster all the time and loved how the birds in it were ALIVE, going about their business in the snow even as their species names hovered beside them. As I started thinking about that year’s holiday card, I wondered–what if I did that, but silly? And here we are.
This is still one of the most popular cards I’ve ever done, and I still sell packs of them to friends and family. It spun into card “sequels”, as I did Birds of the East Coast for the other three seasons. This card also led in part to one of the greatest adventures and turning points of my life–but that’s getting ahead of myself. ;)
PS - Sarah, if you’re reading this, I love you!
#happyholidays #throwback #advent #birdart #whimsical #throwback #watercolorbirds #winterbirds #birdartist
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXO11SKFZRj/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Daily Photo 352, 12.18 — Still not over evenings in downtown, they should keep these lights year-round —
posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/38W9p4w
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Daily Photo 351, 12.17 — Catching that train reflecting all the tree lights downtown —
posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2PAn2yB
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MERRY CHRIS-MAS! Sending love to you and yours (I am obsessed with my tiny hat and will now wear it all year round) #Christmas #merrychristmas #happyholidays #christmas2019 (at Dunmow, Essex, United Kingdom)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6f67LuHCu6/?igshid=orejlnce1a6f
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..Something magic will happen soon.. ✨
They say that Golden Sun ☀️ will appear again on:
❄️December 25th❄️ this year! Stay tuned!
Visitmy profile and also TandA’s Youtube channel on 25.12.2021!
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DMX singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is the only way to kick off the holiday season.
“What!”
RIP Legend…Happy Holidays!
The holidays are right around the corner and BadAss Becky wants to know….how would YOU like to enjoy these red hot Xmas toes rubbed all over your mouth and nose?
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Merry Christmas Eve!! ⛄❄
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#christmas #holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #gifts #gift #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #red #green #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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Waiting for the food to finish cooking!
Merry Christmas to all or Merry Christmas Eve to all! May it be filled with love, joy and happiness!
Best wishes to all!!
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#christmas #holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #gifts #gift #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #red #green #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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An other cold day and another warm drink. today’s it’s #Applecider
That’s also a photo of my #niece who I love and miss.
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#christmas #holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #gifts #gift #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #red #green #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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The #fandoms are alive tonight! It’s cold and nothing better than #hotchocolate
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#HarryPotter #Starwars #christmas #holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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#Christmas is knocking at the door, along with way to much snow!
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#holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #gifts #gift #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #red #green #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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#cookies I have the best #mum she just gave me a warm fresh baked sugar cookie! I just love this time of year!!
#christmas #holidays #tistheseason #InstaTags4Likes #holiday #winter #instagood #happyholidays #elves #lights #presents #gifts #gift #tree #decorations #ornaments #carols #santa #santaclaus #mrsclaus #photooftheday #love #xmas #red #green #christmastree #family #jolly #snow #merrychristmas
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